Bushey-firm J2 raises £30k for boy with rare genetic disorder

George Reed, a nine-year-old from Harrow, is believed to be the only person in the world with his particular genetic disorder that is so rare it doesn’t have a name.

J2, a Bushey-based property marketing firm, was so struck by the fundraising campaign launched by employee and mother Anita, that they had to kickstart the fundraiser with the large donation.

The boy’s partial duplication of chromosomes 2 and 9 has resulted in severe learning disability, low muscle tone, autism and epilepsy. He is non-verbal and has a gastric tube to help him eat and drink.

His development is akin to one of a one-year-old baby, so as he gets bigger, it becomes more difficult for his parents to help him move around the house and carry out care tasks such as bathing.

The fundraising campaign aims to raise £75,000 to make changes to their house so that George can have more freedom in the house, as well as to fund respite care.

Planned adaptations include making the front of the house level so they don’t have to lift his heavy wheelchair over the doorstep and making all the downstairs rooms level so that George doesn’t have to spend all his time in one room.

The parents would also like to install a wet room with specialist equipment and create space for an overnight carer.

To help support the campaign, J2 held a virtual 200km cycle race on exercise bikes, with each employee doing 15-minute stints.

A Bushey-based firm raised over £30,000 for George

Managing director Julian West has pledged to match any funds raised up to the first £3,000.

The mother said: "It means such a lot to me that my colleagues and clients have thrown themselves behind our fundraising in this way.

“The more George grows, the more urgent the adaptations to the house become and it is amazing to feel supported in this way.”

To donate to George’s fund, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/j2forgeorge